Reading and meditation on the Word of God, Tuesday of the 10th week in ordinary time
June 8, 2021
Reading is delivered by Lavinia Evangeline Koordi and meditation delivered by Mark Jason Garcia, from the Church of Santo Yohanes Bosco in Jakarta, Indonesia.
The reading is taken from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew (5: 13-16)
Jesus said to his disciples:
“You are the salt of the earth.
But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned?
It is no longer good for anything
but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
You are the light of the world.
A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden.
Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket;
it is set on a lampstand,
where it gives light to all in the house.
Just so, your light must shine before others,
that they may see your good deeds
and glorify your heavenly Father.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Our meditation today has the theme: Light for Darkness. There was a husband and his wife who have been married for five years, and just this recent week experienced a new life which they have mostly expected. They welcomed the first newborn child after their five-year marriage. When they were still waiting, there were more troubles than happy moments together. Their quarrels and blaming each other were always out of control.
The worst moment was a year before the wife became pregnant, when they were already about to divorce. The husband first demanded a process of divorce, and the wife also agreed to proceed with the plan. The marriage and life of this newly built family were truly in the darkness of this world. Even though there is always sunshine during the day, moonlight and starlight during the night, their life together in the family moment after moment seemed unable to find a single light that could provide a way out of trouble.
God can’t stand His people who are suffering. He has designed their falling in love. He has created their marriage. Why did He allow the tribulation to end in the destruction of marriage and family?
Regarding the couple, The certainty of help was revealed towards the middle of their 5th year of marriage. The wife was proven to be pregnant, after accidentally going to the doctor for a health check-up.
The good news and a happy atmosphere have soon filled their entire household. The husband prostrated in front of his wife, they forgave each other, they hugged each other, and their tears of joy mixed with each other in love. Nine months of pregnancy have passed and the normal birth of a baby boy named Salvatore (savior) has occurred so smoothly. That reality indeed became a light to dispel the darkness that had for some time tormented the life of the husband and his wife who had just started to build their own family.
The baby was named Salvatore to emphasize the role of the Lord Jesus as the savior of all mankind and the light to the world. Saint John says in his Gospel that Jesus is the Light, and we His followers are invited to always live in that light. He gives His light to us through all the blessings that are bestowed upon us. The Gospel of Matthew today teaches and asks us the followers of Christ to be the light of the world. Let us not do the unexpected things in this regard, by having the light given by God to fade or not being shared.
Saint Paul in our first reading today affirms that the light for us that never fades is to find “yes” or “amen” in all the promises of God proclaimed by our Lord Jesus Christ. Every time we exclaim “Amen”, let us use this as an opportunity to glorify our God.
Let’s pray. In the name of the Father…O most loving Jesus, make us Your light for the world around us that is in dire need of help. Glory to the Father… In the name of the Father…